Miracles News
Summer 2003

Angels in the Chapel

by Rev. Barbara Kraetsch

It was a lovely little chapel at the nursing home, created with love on a tight budget. My sister, the administrator, told me the residents needed a chapel and asked if I would help her convert a conference room into one. I, of course, said that I would be happy to lend my time and decorating talents to the project.

Being quite short on cash to accomplish the project, I loaned to the chapel some of my own religious art collection. I even chose the color scheme around one of the art pieces, a beautiful picture of Goya angels that my daughter had brought me from a visit to Spain. She had especially sought out the beautiful chapel in Madrid with Goya murals on the walls that included these two angels, to buy this picture for me because she knew I would like it. I had it beautifully framed and because it was the last picture like it at the Spanish chapel, we were to share it. It had great sentimental value for me, and in the spirit of sharing, I hung it on the wall of the nursing home chapel because I knew the residents would greatly enjoy it. And they did for one year.

One day a few weeks ago, my sister called to tell me that one of the employees had stolen the Goya angels picture during the night shift. She had met with all the employees and pleaded for its return unsuccessfully. She was quite distraught. I was initially shocked, but immediately took the situation to the Holy Spirit. Whenever I felt sadness or loss, I gave it to Holy Spirit. I saw the Goya angels in the Light with the light in human form who took it. I came to forgiveness and true peace.

I told my sister I had forgiven the person who took the picture from the chapel and held them in the Light with me. My peace extended to her and she could feel more peaceful and let go of some of her anger. I communicated the situation to my daughter in peace and she was able to come to laugh that someone had taken the angels picture from the chapel. Again, I felt that my peace diffused her loss and disappointment. Coming to forgiveness had not only helped me, but it helped them tangibly as well.

The peace of forgiveness has allowed me to see this entire circumstance as a profound learning experience. The picture is not lost from me, and neither is my peace. I was guided to ask my sister if I might be able to communicate to the residents and employees of the home about my experience of forgiveness and peace. She thought this was a fine idea. I intend to do this when Spirit guides me to do so. I trust that peace and love continues the miracle of forgiveness to the residents, who are saddened and shocked at the loss, and to the employees, who are outraged that someone they work with would do this. And, most of all, I trust that the peace of forgiveness extends to the one with the picture, the other angel with me in the Chapel of Light that I see in my Mind’s eye.

Rev. Barbara Kraetsch is a Pathways of Light minister living in Hartford, Wisconsin.

Email: kraetsch@execpc.com

Why Did I Attract That?

by Rev. Petra Sundheim

An occasional attendee of our Wednesday group studying A Course in Miracles was someone I knew in a couple of other settings. Even though I had provided an impromptu meal for her in my apartment, I felt a little wary in her presence. Hazel (not her name) started attending regularly and commands attention whenever she speaks. Her speech is slow, deliberate and dramatic. If interrupted, she states with intensity and angry eyes, “May I finish, please!” which brings everyone to attention.

We can get into animated discussions after reading portions of the Course. I felt a flash of insight and responded to a couple of the members, noting their eyes lit up in resonance with what I was saying. Promptly Hazel spoke up and said in effect as she stared at me, “Petra is telling people what to think…”, her eyes flashing anger and condescension. I felt my body tremble and my knees shake. I replied, “If you have a grievance with me, we can talk about it after the meeting”. Glances from friends in the group were exchanged. We continued with the course, and I remained silent until it was over. We listened to another member play an original piece on his guitar which softened the atmosphere. I made a brief announcement about the Jeshua transmissions through James Twyman on the Internet. Hazel pounced on me again directing intense anger. I did not know or understand where this was coming from.

I felt weak and puzzled, wondering about how I could have attracted this. I felt like my inner child was significantly hooked by the way my body was reacting. There was an old feeling of shame that was triggered. Shame in not knowing. I was surprised at the degree of penetration I experienced.

After our group hug I quickly went to her and hoped to keep my composure. She unleashed more criticism…” Don’t you get it? Are you the leader?” I said, “Get what?” and she proceeded to tell me my remarks sounded like “evaluating.” That struck a chord of knowing and feelings of guilt. Am I still doing that? I thought. More shame. I shared my reaction to her anger. She yelled, “I am Hazel! I have a right to be angry!” Others in the parking lot looked our way. A young man from the group came over and spoke quietly to Hazel, asking her not to destroy the peace usually present in our group. She made some retort and he shook his head.

As I left to join an old friend for lunch, I received hugs from others in the group and became tearful. A mutual sharing with this friend and listening to her peaceful handling of a costly business “failure” was part of the nurturing and healing I needed.

During the week I focused on Spirit’s perspective. I had displayed plenty of anger in the past. My problem now was my intimidation and arousal of shame and fear by encounters with angry people who displayed disapproval and criticism. I was taking it all personally. I had come to understand this was the individual’s problem and projection, but I was taking it in as if I had receptor sites which attracted this energy.

I used the Emotional Freedom Technique to help me become desensitized through tapping on acupressure points. (A source of information on this is at <http://www.emofree.com/>www.emofree.com.) I tapped on nine or ten acupressure points repeating, “Even though I experienced her anger and disapproval, I am as God created me. I cannot be hurt.”

I also used the italics in the ACIM Text p. 329 whenever thoughts of Hazel would come up. “I give you to the Holy Spirit as part of myself. I know you will be released, unless I want to use you to imprison myself. In the name of my freedom I choose your release, because I recognize we will be released together. ”

I continued to search with Spirit for any unhealed aspects. I thought I was totally healed of the anger, negativity and criticism I had taken in from my father in my early childhood. I learned it really was about the limiting thoughts and self doubt I needed to forgive in myself.

I still had fears about going back to the group, although I felt completely supported, loved and appreciated by them. I wanted to feel invulnerable as spoken of in the Course. I came across a line about immunity. I decided not to do anything but to trust the Holy Spirit to work this out.

Hazel had returned to the group. I was not disappointed; the readings in the Text and lessons were blessings for both of us. We read several portions from the Obstacles to Peace. I noted that “any remnant of attack I cherish against my brother (sister) limits God’s Will. (First Obstacle, par. 2, p.408) “Peace will flow across this obstacle” was the answer to all the obstacles beginning with the belief in sin, the attraction of guilt which produces the fear of love, the attraction of pain, the attraction of death and the fear of God.

I also took note of “We are afraid of God because we fear our brother” or sister. In forgiveness “Together we will disappear into the Presence beyond the veil,” …to be known and to know God’s Plan for wholeness (salvation) will be done. (p. 422ff) “It is given me to see the sure protection of the Father beyond the veil.” p. 424.

“The miracle of life is ageless, born in time but nourished in eternity.” p. 419. So we nourish our essence in the holy instant, the now. We return to Self – my purpose and my holy friend’s purpose.

I was amazed at the lesson we read. The first line of 161 “…take a stand against our anger, that our fears may disappear and offer room to love… Give me your blessing, holy Son of God. I would behold you with the eyes of Christ, and see my perfect sinlessness in you.” Lesson 162 “I am as God created me.” Indeed this thought would save the world, if we could grasp it. In paragraph 4, my gift in this experience was declared in the last line: “Christ’s vision has restored your sight by salvaging your mind.” My peace has been restored as well. I could feel compassion for Hazel whose manner had softened considerably into a subdued receptive state.

A week later in Lesson 169 I read, “By grace I live. By grace I am released. By grace I give, By grace I will release.” Grace cannot come until the mind prepares itself for true acceptance. Grace provides experience, foreshadowing Heaven but ending in time. When forgiveness becomes as natural as breathing, a certain Heart beats in tune with God. I am grateful for another experience of grace bringing me closer to being at Home in Essence.

Rev. Petra Sundheim is a Pathways of Light minister living in Kauai, Hawaii.

Email: coachpetra@myexcel.com

With the Storm Came Many Blessings

by Rev. Georgeann Medved

When I ponder about what happened this past April, I am reminded of Pathways Course 112: Knowing Your True Purpose. I have always felt that my purpose on earth is to love, learn, grow and mature in as graceful a manner as possible. When I observe others doing the same, I am truly grateful to God. It’s inspiring!

Michigan had a horrible ice storm beginning April 4th. Trees and branches snapped and fell through our rural woods for seven days. The first two nights I was home alone and lay awake listening to trees fall as far as a half a mile away at a local church camp.

On the fourth day of the storm, a huge tree branch fell on our roof, piercing it and leaving a 44 inch long by 5 inch in diameter branch dangling down into our attic below and damaging our rain gutters. High winds that followed tore off our gutter guards and damaged more shingles. Our whole roof will have to be replaced. Many neighbors also experienced much damage to their homes and had to abandon cars and walk a mile or more home along icy dirt roads.

During the whole ordeal, what I noticed around me was truly God’s gift and was amazing. Neighbors helped neighbors clear trees off roads with chain saws and tractors so those who had to get to work could do so. People one mile away without power were taken into homes of strangers and provided with warmth and hospitality. Groceries were purchased and delivered to the elderly and infirm. Cars that had been abandoned were returned by friends and neighbors with tractors and trucks and dogs and cats that went to visit out of boredom after days of confinement were taken in, fed, played with and then returned to their owners via automobile and tractor. Neighbors saw to it that our friend Jerry, who is a physician at a local convalescent home, could get out of his 300 foot driveway day and night in case any of his patients had a health crises. The Spirit of Christ working through our neighbors was truly awesome!

During the storm the trees were beautifully coated with ice and bushes hung to the ground in splendor like diamond fountains. Ice pelted the roofs and created a melodic rapping sound and the sound of trees and branches randomly cracking and falling was mysterious. Such beauty; such destruction. This was a contradiction of nature which everyone mentioned.

Through this storm God provided our rural neighborhood with the opportunity to love, learn, grow and mature and people magnificently accepted this challenge. I feel truly blessed by these people living here in this rural community.

Georgeann Medved is a Pathways of Light minister living in Columbiaville, MI

Email: revgeorgeann@juno.com

I’ve been to the mountains

I’ve been to the shore,

I’ve known my Father’s Gifts

Now it’s time to know Him more.

He is in All of it

and All of it is He,

In my very being here

All of Him is me.

I am the Father

I am the Son,

I am the Spirit

of the holy One.

Beloved Mother

Divine Daughter,

Come now, Sister

Drink of the blessed water.

Child of God

It’s time to return Home,

Awaken to your true loving Spirit

You will not walk alone.

Dear sweet one

Roam in the darkness no more,

Come, step into the Light

I am the Love you have been longing for.

In this world there is but One

Your new life has already begun,

Have faith and believe with Love in your heart

Now is the only place to start.

Do not fear, doubt, or wonder why Spread your wings, it’s time to fly

Just take that leap — go with My Plan

The Heaven you seek is at hand!

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